Win Sets the (Paper of) Record Straight on GSL and GH Lodge

**Yard Sale** · 03-27-2008, 11:49 AM

I certainly don't know any of the ins and outs of the ownership/competitive relationship between SBV and SB, but I would think that inducing foot traffic to and from SBV form LP Base could only net in the black for LP base relative to lost business to Chez Henri and mountainside. Perhaps the relocation of the proposed GSL will further enhance the attractiveness of connecting with SBV financially as well as aesthetically.

**aejkb** · 03-27-2008, 01:37 PM

All this is interesting and everything, but WTF is up with Shady Jay's tattoo? He's not as bad as the husband of the Irish girl on American Idol,who has them on his face, but a train station fresco? Seriously, I bet the new Guest services lodge will be moved closer to the Village, so as to knit the 2 together. Oh yeah and the Valley House is always crowded--you shouldnt walk up the hill to go there on weekends, you wouldnt like it.

**HowieT2** · 03-27-2008, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by aejkb

All this is interesting and everything, but WTF is up with Shady Jay's tattoo? He's not as bad as the husband of the Irish girl on American Idol,who has them on his face, but a train station fresco? Seriously, I bet the new Guest services lodge will be moved closer to the Village, so as to knit the 2 together. Oh yeah and the Valley House is always crowded--you shouldnt walk up the hill to go there on weekends, you wouldnt like it.

Will Shadyjay get a tattoo of the new GSL on his lower back?

**arc1** · 03-27-2008, 02:50 PM

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

**HowieT2** · 03-27-2008, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by arc1

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

I'll second that. I'll even volunteer to make some wings myself.

**djd66** · 03-27-2008, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by HowieT2

Originally Posted by arc1

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

I'll second that. I'll even volunteer to make some wings myself.

How about keeping the GH lodge open after 4:00 and selling take out pizza? Minus American Flat Bread, IMHO, GH Lodge Pizza is the best in the valley. i would love to be able to buy this after hours. I would think with all the condos and homes in the area, they could do a nice busness. The overhead is already paid for, just need a couple of people to run it. Just a thought,...

**shadyjay** · 03-27-2008, 06:01 PM

Keeping this on the topic of Sugarbush..............

Maybe I'll get a Sugarbush tattoo on my arm or across my chest and get written up in the Valley Reporter for it. That way, I can have the NYT on the back and the VR on the front!
Better yet, as someone suggested, I can get the Gate House, with a SB mural, on my front, and with the text "I'm Better Here". Maybe Win would be interested in paying for it?

We now return you to your previous scheduled thread, and if you want to know more info, send me a PM. Thx!

**smootharc** · 03-28-2008, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by shadyjay

Better yet, as someone suggested, I can get the Gate House, with a SB mural, on my front, and with the text "I'm Better Here".

We now return you to your previous scheduled thread....

....until I suggest, for ski bunny attraction sake, that you add "You're better here, too !" to that tat.....

**Crocker** · 03-28-2008, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by arc1

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

Clearly, great minds think alike. Castlerock Pub serves its full menu until 4:30 Monday-Thursday and until 5:00 on weekends. On days that there is a BBQ, however, the food service ends at 3:00, which, conveniently, is when Timbers begins serving their apres menu. As the season winds down, look for operating hours to change with skier visits, but that is the schedule as of today. I hope this post leads to many smiley emoticons.

**MntMan4Bush** · 03-28-2008, 08:40 AM

That is good news to hear. However I think that the intent was that if the CRP expands then perhaps the Apres menu will as well. Personally I'd love to toss back some wings, loaded nachos, potato skins, soups, calamari, mini pizzas or slices etc after a day of skiing and keep that going until about 7 during the heart of the season. I think that if they were able to facilitate a more robust Apres menu at the CRP I'd have a lot less quid in my pocket at the end of the night. As it is we either jet to our ski house after a few beers to whip some Tyson's into the oven or have even been know to make the sojourn over to the 1824 for a bowl of french onion soup. Now that's a HAUL for some Apres treats. Not exactly an Apres setting or menu but the soup is outrageous.

As far as other ideas posted I love the idea of the fire pit. Be it gas or wood it would be a nice touch. I know people who want to go to Flat Breads just to stand around the fire and drink beer.

I also like the idea of a nice skating rink. I know they have one downtown, but I'm talking one that fits in with the decor of a small Vermont Ski Village. Not so much a rink as an artificial pond with the mountain in the back ground. I guess the question would be where to put it. I guess you could ax the valet parking area and have that be farther away. I don't know, but a nice rink with and adjacent Waffle Haus for some Hot Chocolate (possibly Irish up the cups a bit) would be sweet.

Yeah know....while we're all dreaming of things..........

**noski** · 03-28-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Crocker

Clearly, great minds think alike.

... as an 'aside', I have heard this in a different context:; "Simple minds seldom differ"..... Clearly NOT the case in this instance, that goes without saying....

**Tin Woodsman** · 03-28-2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by ski_resort_observer

It's my day off so I'll take a step onto the minefield and take the flames regarding the size of the CP. One thing that alot of people who are quick to shout often that the Bush screwed up by making it too small is very unfair IMHO. Hindsight is 20/20.

When something as big/complicated as a new Gatehouse Lodge, one piece of the new developement is planned no one really knows how busy the bar will be. There is the balance of size regarding when it's going to be busy on weekends/holidays but not very busy during the week. Not sure if the closing of the Blue Tooth was a done deal at this time. This balance is important in planning pretty much any building/space at a seasonal business like a ski resort. Who knew that after a month after opening the Bush would be blessed with good snow from then to present. IIRC the Bush went 100% open on Jan 21, 2007.

With a business with such a small profit margin I think underplanning/undersizing is the wise way then adjust as you go. According to BMM the NSAA reports that the average profit margin at a ski resort is 3%. That's a pretty scary number. So many small improvements have been made basically unseen to the public.

SRO - I'm sorry, but this is a bit of a cop out. As you well know, the net change in actual bar space between the 05/06 and 06/07 seasons was:

SUBTRACT
North 1/3 of old GH lodge
Wunderbar
Mushroom
Blue Tooth

ADD
New CR Pub

Timbers barely counts, as it's not exactly designed to take large apres crowds and last year was completely ill-prepared to do so (menu, service and set-up) anyway.

Anyway you look at it, it should have been painfully obvious that CRP would be crowded - it's smaller than its namesake inthe old lodge, let alone the Shroom and Wunderbar. Wunderbar is thankfully open again this year, but there just isn't as much activity in VH lodge as in years past for a variety of reasons.

Given margins on alcohol sales in the 300% range, I think this is one area where you'd be willing to over plan a bit.

Regardless, looks like the expansion largely addresses this issue, so I've got nothing to complain about (unless they stiff me on the plaque commemorating the Tin Woodsman Annex).

**thinksnow** · 03-28-2008, 12:39 PM

Instead, we plan to expand the Gatehouse by building out the lower level of the Castlerock pub and having a deck overhead. We will put in a hood so we can grill, and we will also expand the amount of boot storage by building an extra bay on the west side of the second floot. I think this will add 80 -120 seats and almost double the storage area. More later!

Great~ This sounds a LOT like what happened to the previous Gatehouse Lodge....So where will the big white tent be stuck this time??

**Tin Woodsman** · 03-28-2008, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Crocker

Originally Posted by arc1

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

Clearly, great minds think alike. Castlerock Pub serves its full menu until 4:30 Monday-Thursday and until 5:00 on weekends. On days that there is a BBQ, however, the food service ends at 3:00, which, conveniently, is when Timbers begins serving their apres menu. As the season winds down, look for operating hours to change with skier visits, but that is the schedule as of today. I hope this post leads to many smiley emoticons.

Being able to actually walk around in the larger CRP will be a good thing. It's hard to determine what the hell is going on or is available when you are stuffed cheek by jowl into the joint. Pizza would be nice, and easy, too.

**boze** · 03-28-2008, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by HowieT2

Originally Posted by arc1

This sounds like a great opportunity to rethink the apres food issue. I'm always amazed there's no food available after 400 or so in the CRP. You've got a room full of hungry people drinking beer and it only makes sense to serve food. Gotta think that would be a money maker too. We finally gave up and took our crew to the Pheonix, and ironically they don't serve till 5. So we wait and spend our $ there. Ever been to another apres ski pub that doesn't serve food?

I'll second that. I'll even volunteer to make some wings myself.

Howie makes really good wings. Really good. Hope Win takes you up on your generous offer, amigo.